Harare Gears Up for Green Revolution: Multi-Stakeholder Forum Shapes Climate Policy

Harare is taking bold steps towards environmental sustainability as a multi-stakeholder dialogue advances the development of a City Environment and Climate Policy.

This initiative, which brings together government representatives, local authorities, civil society, and private sector players, seeks to combat climate change challenges and align Harare with global sustainability goals.

Speaking at the workshop in Harare, City of Harare Acting Town Clerk, Eng. Phakamile Mabhena Moyo, highlighted the urgency of this policy, particularly as Zimbabwe prepares to host the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in July 2025.

“This environment and climate policy development process is particularly timely, coinciding with Zimbabwe’s hosting of COP15.

“This underscores the critical importance of wetland protection and conservation within our policy framework,” Moyo said.

He credited the progress of this initiative to a collaborative effort involving the City of Harare, the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), the Canadian Embassy, Dialogue on Shelter Trust, and the Community Water Alliance (CWA).

Harare faces severe environmental and climate challenges, including wetland destruction, water and air pollution, urban sprawl, and climate change-induced flooding.

The forum provided a platform for key stakeholders to propose innovative solutions to these issues.

Pastor Tawanda Utete, Chairperson of the Glen View 8 Furniture Complex Management Committee, stressed the importance of integrating small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into green energy solutions.

“At Glen View Area 8, we have seen how solar power can replace electricity. We can use solar systems for our businesses and even adopt bio-digesters for waste management, where the gas produced can be used for lighting and cooking,” he said.

He also suggested recycling sawdust from furniture workshops into stationery products such as notebooks, offering both an environmental and economic advantage.

On her part, Ruvimbo Chidakwa, Programme Officer for the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), called for the upgrading of informal markets into smart neighborhood markets that incorporate toilets, water access, electricity, waste management, and storage facilities.

“The use of low-cost materials and green energy is recommended where necessary. More so, the markets must be accessible to all people, including those with disabilities,” Chidakwa noted.

She emphasized that informal traders play a key role in reducing environmental harm by selling fresh produce directly from farmers, reducing packaging waste, and promoting organic farming methods.

VISET also urged the city to revise outdated municipal policies and formally integrate the urban informal economy into local plans, including the provision of smart vending stalls at high-traffic locations.

Engineer Elvis Simbarashe Karuzo, Senior Technical Officer at the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), emphasized that Harare’s environmental resilience depends on a strong policy framework.

“As SAZ, we recommend the adoption of ISO 14001, an international standard for environmental management systems. Implementing this will ensure Harare prioritizes water resource management, waste reduction, air quality improvement, and urban greening,” Eng. Karuzo said.

be that as it may, Dr. Ivan Munyonga, Executive Director of Enviro Roundtable, reaffirmed the private sector’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He referenced the Zimbabwe Low Emission Coalition project, which aims to curb gas emissions by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement.

“Our role as a coalition is to build the capacity of businesses to report on greenhouse gas emissions.

“With the upcoming Climate Change Bill, it is now mandatory for private sector players to disclose their emissions data. We are here to help them integrate compliance with global environmental standards,” he explained.

The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that Harare’s Environment and Climate Policy is not only developed but effectively implemented.

By addressing key challenges and fostering partnerships between local authorities, businesses, and residents, Harare aims to transform into a greener, more climate-resilient city while setting an example for sustainable urban planning in Africa.